used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
the state of being absent
From this reading One novel feature on this occasion was the total absence of finger-prints.
abstracting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
accountingnounUS /əˈkaʊntɪŋ/
a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AUNT AND “NEPHEW”!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading AUNT AND “NEPHEW”!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
Deanerynoun
the official residence of a dean
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
discussverbUS /dɪˈskʌs/
to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
featurenounUS /ˈfiːtʃər/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading One novel feature on this occasion was the total absence of finger-prints.
finger-prints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One novel feature on this occasion was the total absence of finger-prints.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
hindrancenounUS /ˈhɪndrəns/
something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
a narrow way or road
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
NEPHEWnounUS /ˈnefjuː/
a son of your brother or sister
From this reading AUNT AND “NEPHEW”!
not any; not one
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading One novel feature on this occasion was the total absence of finger-prints.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading One novel feature on this occasion was the total absence of finger-prints.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One novel feature on this occasion was the total absence of finger-prints.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One novel feature on this occasion was the total absence of finger-prints.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
replacingnounUS /rɪˈpleɪsɪŋ/
the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One novel feature on this occasion was the total absence of finger-prints.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
totalverbUS /ˈtoʊtəl/
add up in number or quantity
From this reading One novel feature on this occasion was the total absence of finger-prints.
precisely as stated
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
at the time that
From this reading There was not very much to discuss when Lane did get to Deanery Street.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Certain inexplicable things had happened for which, at present, there seemed no accounting.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Somebody seemed to be doing what he liked with this wonderful safe, abstracting and replacing property when he chose, without hindrance, in a house full of people.
